Ever wondered why your singing voice sounds remarkably different from your speaking voice? Or why no two singers sound exactly alike? The answer has to do with your make-up – - not the make-up you put on your face, but your actual physical make-up. Today’s blog is all about how the voice works because in order to be the best singer you can be, you must understand what’s happening in your body every time you sing. So, get ready for a virtual tour of your voice!

The first stop on our tour is your nose because in order to sing a note you have to breathe in. So go ahead, take a deep breath! Air comes rushing into your nostrils and makes a bee-line for your lungs. As your lungs fill with oxygen, they press down on the arched lining right above your stomach. This lining is called the diaphragm.

As the diaphragm is pressed down, you should feel your stomach, sides and back expand. But don’t get too comfortable! What goes in must come out! Your lungs will automatically begin releasing the air, and as this happens, the diaphragm shoots back up, pushing the air out of the lungs, bringing us to the next stop on our journey – - the voice box (or larynx).

The second stop,the voice box or larynx is most visible when you swallow. It is that little ball in your throat that moves up and down as you swallow. The voice box consists of two vocal cords or folds that sit very close to each other.

When you breathe out, the air rushes between these two cords, making them vibrate. This vibration produces the sound you hear when you sing! The size and thickness of the vocal folds determine the sound produced. For instance, men, whose vocal folds are twice the length of those of women, are able to sing very low tones. Additionally, the unique length and thickness of your vocal folds ensure that you will sound dramatically different from any other singer. But hold on! we have one more stop on our tour of the voice.

The last stop on this virtual vocal tour is the articulators, which include the mouth, nose, eyes, and face in general. Remember, the sound was produced in the voice box way down in your throat. In order for others to hear you sing, this sound needs to be magnified. As the sound escapes your voice box, it vibrates (resonates) on the bones of the roof of your mouth (hard and soft palate),nose, and virtually all of your face. This area is called your mask and is as important as a mike and amplifier are to a musician on stage. To feel your mask in action, simply hum. Do you feel a slight rattle by your nose? You should, because this proves that your mask is vibrating and your sound is the best it can be!

This video demonstrates exercises for the top five voice warmups.

Consider for a moment two singers: Singer A and Singer B

Singer A sounds weak, soft, and pitchy. You can tell that she loves to sing, but something’s missing…

Singer B sounds alive, dynamic, pure, rich and dramatic. He’s been singing for only 2 minutes, but you are hoping the song never ends…

The difference – - breath control!

Yes, the key to developing your voice is good breath control.

Breath Mint, Anyone?

Before you are tempted to reach for the closest mouthwash, let’s piece together what is meant by the term “breath control” for singers.

Breath control is a relaxed, but controlled process of allowing the voice to be supported by the breath. We call this diaphragmatic breathing. (For more in-depth knowledge of how the diaphragm works read “How to Train Singers” by Larra Browning Henderson).

The breathing process is a three-step process:
1. Inhalation (breathing in) – -Standing before a mirror, place an index finger below your nose and breathe in deeply, as if you were smelling a rose. You probably hear the air rushing into your lungs and feel the back and abdomen expand. If you don’t, try repeating this lying on your back. Ahh… you’ve got it now. What you probably did not see is your diaphragm (the lining below your lungs) move downwards, allowing your lungs to fill up with air. This downward motion (not last night’s pizza) is what gently urges your stomach to protrude a bit.

2. Suspension (expanding) – - Ever watched The Matrix? One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Keanu Reeves bends over backwards and time itself seems to stand still. That’s what suspension is like. It is a very brief point in time, after inhaling, in which the body expands and gets ready to sing. There is no need to practice suspending the breath because:

a.    It is so brief.
b.    We do it naturally
c.    Any attempt to control suspension may lead to tension and holding the breath in.

3. Exhalation (breathing out)  – - Ahhhh! The release! In this phase we finally allow the breath to escape from the body using a hissing sound. Simply part the lips, and slowly allow the air to exit through closed teeth on a “sss” sound. The key here is to “control” the rate at which air leaves the body. Too fast, and you will run out of air as you sing.  Here’s a neat trick – - Although you are breathing out, pretend that you are still breathing in and you will be amazed at how long your breath lasts. Go ahead, give it a try! Each day, try timing yourself to see how long you can “hiss” and slowly increase this time as you are able.

Breath control IS the KEY to the BEST singing voice. It is the difference between a strong, vibrant voice and a weak, pitchy one. Please feel free to leave any comments you have on today’s topic and don’t forget to weigh in on our next one:

THE TOP FIVE DAILY WARM-UPS FOR THE BEST SINGING VOICE